Health with Daria Donato

1. Avoid Stress Eating: When you’re stressed, try substituting eating with physical activity. Many times, people resort to binge eating when they feel overwhelmed rather than refocusing their energy on other activities that can easily reduce stress. Head to the gym, walk to Cosmic or participate in other physical activities that will distract you from the fleeting desire to binge eat. 

2. Drink More Water: Water is accessible around campus, if you look for it. And staying hydrated is definitely a key step to eating healthier. It helps you feel full while working to improve your digestive system. Drinking water allows you to avoid wasting calories on sugary drinks as well.

3. Eat Breakfast: You’ve heard it a million times, but eating breakfast gets your metabolism going right away. It also motivates you to make healthier eating choices, such as eating well-balanced meals, since you will not be famished and reach for go-to snacks. If you skip breakfast, you will be inclined to overeat at lunch or dinner, or binge on unnecessary sugary junk food instead.

4. Don’t Give Up on the Gym: Even if your motivation is slowing, try to keep up your gym activity! If you have trouble finding energy to exercise during the afternoon, try waking up an hour earlier and working out before classes. The morning is also a great time to go; check the workout off your to-do list right away. You’ll have greater energy during the day. Avoid making excuses about exhaustion or bad weather, and find a gym buddy to keep you accountable for going.

5. Slow down the pace of Eating: Do not rush to finish a meal. Let your brain process your stomach’s message alerting it that you are full, which takes about 20 minutes. Also, you are also more likely to eat excess calories that the body doesn’t need, when eating too quickly. Rather, take your time and drink a tall glass of water to slow down the pace even further. By doing this, you will feel more satisfied after your meal.

6. Do Your Research: By a simple Google search, you can discover plenty of reliable health websites that explain how to eat a healthy diet. Take special notice of the difference between processed and natural carbohydrates, and healthy and dietary fats. This information can help you to plan out your meals, making them both healthier and more balanced.